Atomizer



A. LIMBACH Jan. s, 1946.

ATOMIZER Filed Feb. 5 1942 v A. l

I. I. 4 p

\ lllllllllll INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATOMIZER Alex Limbach,Carmel, N. Y.

Application February 5, 1942, Serial No. 429,625

12 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid-dispensing devices such as atomizers orsprayers.

An object of this invention is a simple and inexpensive liquid dispenserassembly adapted for easy attachment to a container in which insecticideor other liquid is merchandized or to a threaded member for dispensingany liquid.

It is quite customary to merchandize insecticide and the like in a metalcontainer having an exteriorly threaded neck on which is provided a cap.The dispenser of this invention is particularly adapted to be screwed onto the threaded neck of such container after removal of the original capand puncturing of the container seal if the container is provided with aseal. a

The structure of certain forms of the dispenser is such that in order touse the dispenser, the container is inverted so that liquid feedstherefrom into the dispenser by gravity and the dispenser is providedwith a bulbor other suitable means for producing a stream of air whicheiiects atomization of the liquid and discharges it in the form of anatomized spray. When not in use,

the container is placed in its normal position and there is no tendencyfor liquid to escape from the container through the dispenser. In otherembodiments of the apparatus, the structure is such that liquid iswithdrawn from the container byvacuum so that the dispenser may beoperated with the container in normal position and the dispenser at ahigher level than th liquid in the container.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a dispenser embodying the inventionwith the dispenser being shown in non-operating position;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a second embodiment with the dispenserbeing shown in operating position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the dispensing elements of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modification of Fig. l.-

A container I0 is provided with a neck I I having an exterior screwthread. A cap I2 is interiorlythreaded for co-operation with the threadsof the neck II to hold the cap on the neck. In the cap I2 is provided acircular central recess I3 thereby forming an annular shoulder I4. The

cap has a tube I5 leading from the recess I3 to a hollow bulb [6 ofordinary construction or other means of providing air under pressure.

A preferably circular plate or similar planar member I! engages theshoulder I4 and an apertured planar member or sealing washer I 8underlies the plate I! and is engaged by the rim of the neck ll.Preferably, the'member I1 is composed of plastic material while themember I8 may be composed of any suitable sealing material. An airtightseal is formed between the member I1 and the shoulder I4 preferably bycementing the member to the shoulders The washer I8 may be attached tothe plate H by cement or may be held against it by friction exertedthrough the medium of the inner end of the neck II.

In the plate I! are provided two alined radial grooves I9 and 20 onopposite surfaces of the plate and the cap I2 is provided with anaperture 2| in register with the ends of the grooves I9 and 20. Thegroove I9 forms a passageway between the plate I1 and the shoulder I4while the groove 20 forms a passageway between the plate I I and washerI8.

In operating the dispenser above described, its position of use is justreverse from that shown in Fig. 1, such position of use being the sameas illustrated in Fig. 4. The container III is then arranged at a higherlevel than the bulb I6 as well as at a higher level-than the passagewayformed by the groove 20. bulb I6 forces air through the tube I5 into therecess I3 and through the groove I9 to the aperture 2|. The flow of airthrough the groove I9 draws liquid from the container I0 into the groove20 and through it into the discharge aperture 2|, thereby atomizing theliquid and projecting it through the discharge opening 2| in anatomizedspray. When the arrangement is not being used, it is placed in theposition shown in Fig. 1 in which condition there is no tendency forliquid to flow through the passageway 20 due to the fact that thepassageway is at a higher elevation than the liquid in the container;

In-the modification of Figs. 4 to 6, a preferably circular metal plateor planar member 30 contacts the shoulder I4 and in a groove 3| in theshoulder is preferably provided a gasket 32 against which projects theoblique flange 33 of the plate 30 to form an air-tight seal. A radialportion of the plate 30 is offset to form a groove 34 which provides apassageway between the plate and the shoulder I 4 leading, to thedischarge aperture 21. A'second preferably. circular .metal Compressionof the plate or planar member 35 engages the plate 30 and a radialportion thereof is offset to form a groove 36 in which is received theoffset portion r of the disk or plate 3E3. The size and length of thetwo ofiset portions are such that they provide a passageway 36a betweenthe'two plates leadin to the discharge aperture 2|. A ring gasket 31 ispreferably interposed between the inner end of the neck H and the plate35 and in said plate is provided a minute aperture 38 communicating with"the-passageway between the two plates 30 and 35.

In the operation of the modification of Fig. 4,; I

the dispenser is held in the position shown Fig. 4. through the tubeinto the recess Iii-and Compression of the bulb it forces --air throughthe groove 34 to the dischargeopen'ing'. 2|. Such flow of air drawsliquid fromtlrecon l tainer through the aperture 38 and through thepassageway between the two plates into't'hedis tube 40 communicates withthe inner portion of the groove 29. Except .forthe difierences justmentioned, the structure of the modification of: Fig. 7 is identicalwith that of Fig. 1; In the operation of the modification ofiFig. 7,compressionof the bulb It forces air through the tube l5 into the recess43 and through the groove l9 tothe aperture 2L The now of air throughthe-groove 19 produces a vacuum which is effective. to draw liquidthrough the'tube 40 into the groove 20 andthrough it into "the dischargeaperture thereby atomizing liquid and ,projecting it through thedischarge opening in an atomizedspray. y

The container is held in normal position and no inversion of'it isrequired as .isrequired with the dispenser of Fig. l. Thedispenser'structure of Fig. '7 is a bit more expensive than that of Fig.1 due to the added material and manufacturing operation necessarytoproduce it. 7 7 Although the planar member 18 of Fig. 1 has been shownas a washer, it is to be understood that it may be constructed in theform of a disk having a minute central aperture of the same type as theaperture 38 in the planar member of Fig. 4. Also, in the modification ofFigu e, the disk .35 may be replaced by. a disk-like member havingacentral aperture comparable to the ape-rture in the washer l8 of Fig. 1.Likewise, the modification of Fig. 4 may be further modified by theprovision of a tube similarto the tube 40 of Fig. '7, such tube leadingfrom the bottom of the container 1:! to the-aperture 38 whereby theatomizer may be operated with the container in normal rather than ininverted position.

In all of the modifications, the atomizer structure is of extremesimplicity-and inexpensive ,to manufacture due both to the small amountof a material used and the simple manufacturing 01 oration. Themanufacturing operations are limited either to molding grooves inarplastic member or to bumping groovesin thin metallic members. Each ofthese operations can be ac;-

complished with inexpensive equipment by unskilled labor and the cost ofthe material formin the disks is very slight. 7

If in the modifications of Figs. 1 and 4 the con-' tainer is made ofthin sheet metal, the volume of the atomized discharge may be materiallyincreased by applying pressure to the sides of the container. Suchpressure forces liquid into the discharge channel at a greater rate thanit is fed thereto merely by gravity. With this simple and inexpensivestructure, it is only necessary to attach the dispenser to a supply ofliquid and the air stream supplied from a bulb or other suitable meanswill dispense any liquid in atomized cations 'may be made in theatomizer structure above described without in any way departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended'claims.

I claim: V z

1. A liquid dispensercomprlsing a first imperforate planar member and asecond planar memher, an annular element engaging oneiace of said firstmember adjacent the periphery thereof, means clamping together saidmembers and annular element, a first passageway leading "between saidannular element and saidfirst member, a second passageway leadingbetween said two members, each of said passageways beingformed in ,partat least by a groove in one ozf-said members and both of saidpassageways terminating at the periphery of the first-member inalinement with each other, a transverse aperture-in said second memberoommunicating with the inner portion of said second passageway, meansfor supplying air to said first-passageway, and means for supplyingliquid through said aperture to said second passageway.

A liquid dispenser comprising a first mule forate thin metal planarmember and a second thin metal planar member, an annular sealing elementengaging one face of said first member adjacent the periphery thereof,means clamping together said members and annular element,alined'correspondingly offsetgroove portions in said members forming afirst passageway leading between said element and said first member anda second passagewayleading between saidgtwo members with both of saidpassageways terminating atithe periphery of the first memberin alinementwith each other, an 1 aperture .in'said second member communicatingwiththe inner portion of said'second passageway, means :for supplying:air'to said first passageway, and means for supplying liquid throughsaid aperture tosai-d second passageway. K e 1 .3. A liquid dispensercomprising afirst' imperforate planar member of plastic material anannular element engaging one face of said plastic member adjacent theperiphery thereof including a second :planar member clamping togethersaid plastic member and annular element, alined grooves in oppositefaces-orsaid cating with the inner portion of said second-pas sageway,means for supplying air to said-331st passageway, and means forsupplyingliquid through said aperture to saidxsecond;v passageway.

4. A liquidjdispenser comprising a firstimpei aaaaeoo 3 forate planarmember, a second planarmember, anieleme'nt'en'gaging oneface of saidfirst mem-' ber, .means: clampingrtogether said members and element, .afirst passageway leading between said element and said firstmember, asecond passageway-leading between said two members, each of said"passageways being formed in part at least by agro'ove in one of saidmembers and both of said passageways terminating at the periphery of thefirst'member. in alinement with each other, a transverse aperture insaid second member communicating with the inner portion of said secondpassageway, means for supplying air to said first passageway, and meansfor supplying liquid through said aperture to said second passageway.

5. A liquid dispenser comprising a first imperforate thin metal planarand a second thin metal planar member, a sealing element engaging oneface of said first member, means clamping together said members andelement, alined correspondingly ofiset portions in said members forminga first passageway leading between said sealing element and said firstmember and a second passageway leading between said two members withboth of said passageways terminating at the periphery of the firstmember in alinement with each other, an aperture in said second membercommunicating with the inner portion of said second passageway, meansfor supplying air to said first passageway, and means for supplyingliquid through said aperture to said second passageway.

6. A'liquid dispenser comprising an imperiorate planar member of plasticmaterial, an element engaging one face of said plastic member, meansincluding a second planar member for clamping together said plasticmember and element, alined grooves in opposite faces of said plasticmember forming a first passageway leading between said element and saidplastic member and a second passageway leading between said two memberswith both said passageways terminating at the periphery of said firstmember, an aperture in said second member communicating with the innerportion of said second passageway, means for supplying air to said firstpassageway, and means for supplying liquid through said aperture to saidsecond passageway.

7. In combination, a container having an interconnected neck and cap, arecess in the closed end of said cap forming an annular shoulder, afirst and a second planar member in said cap with said first memberengaging said annular shoulder and said second member engaging the endof the container neck, a first passageway leading between said shoulderand said first member and communicating with said recess, a secondpassageway leading between said two members, both of said passagewaysterminating at the periphery of the first member in alinement with eachother, an opening in said cap in register with the ends of saidpassageways, an aperture in said second member communicating with theinner portion of said second passageway, means for supplying air to saidrecess, and means for supplying liquid through said aperture to saidsecond passageway.

8. In combination, a container having an interconnected neck and cap, arecess in the closed end of said cap forming an annular shoulder, afirst and a second planar member in said cap with said first memberengaging said annular shoulder and said second member engaging the endof the container neck, a first passageway leading between said shoulderand said first member and communicating with said recess, asecondpassageway leading. between said two. members, each of said.passageways being formed'in part at least. by a groove in oneof'saidmembers and both of's'aid passageways terminating at :the periphery ofthe firsti 'membergin alinement with each other, an aperture in. saidsecond member communicating with the inner-portion of said secondpassageway, an opening in said cap inregister with the ends of saidpassageways, means for supplying air to said recess, and means forsupplying liquid through said aperture to said second passageway.

9. In combination, a container having an interconnected neck and cap, areces in the closed end of said cap forming an annular shoulder, a firstand a second thin metal planar member in said cap with said first memberhaving sealing relation with said annular shoulder and said secondmember having sealing engagement with the end of the container neck,alined corresponding ofiset portions in said members forming a firstpassageway leading between said shoulder and said first plate andcommunicating with said recess and a second passageway leading betweensaid two members with both of said passageways terminating at theperiphery of said first member in alinement with each other, an aperturein said second plate communicating with th inner portion of said secondpassageway, an opening in said cap in register with the ends of saidpassageways, means for supplying air to said recess, and means forsupplying liquid through said aperture to said second passageway.

10. In combination, a container having an inter-connected neck and cap,a recess in the closed end of said cap forming an annular shoulder, aplanar member of plastic material in said cap engaging said annularshoulder, a second planar member interposed between said plastic memberand the end of the container neck, alined grooves in opposite faces ofsaid plastic member forming a first passageway leading between saidshoulder and said plastic member and a second passageway leading betweensaid two members with both said passageways terminating at the peripheryof said first member, an aperture in said second member communicatingwith the inner end of said second passageway, an opening in said cap inregister with the ends of said passageways, means for supplying air tosaid recess, and means for supplying liquid through said aperture tosaid second passageway.

11. A liquid dispenser comprising a single imperforate planar member, anannular member engaging one face of said planar member adjacent theperiphery thereof, a sealing washer engaging the other face of saidplanar member, means holding said planar member and said washer inposition engaging said annular member, a first passageway leadingbetween said annular member and one face of said planar member, a secondpassageway leading between said washer and the other face of said planarmember, each of said passageways being formed in part at least by agroove in one face of said planar member both of said passagewaysextending to the periphery of said planar member in alinement with eachother, a transverse aperture in the side wall of said annular member inline with said first and second passageways, means for supplying air tosaid first passageway, and mean for supplying liquid to said secondpassageway.

12. A liquid dispenser of the spray type comprising an annular member, asingle imperforate planar member with one face having sealingengagementwith said annular memberadjacentthe rperiphery'thereof,anapertured closure disk hav-I ing sealing. engagement with the otherface of said planar member, means holding said disk and said planarmemberin engagement with'said an- 5 nular member, a first: passageway ofuniform cross-section leading between said annularmembe: and one face ofsaidplanar member, a. second passageway of uniform cross-sectionleading. be-

tween said .elosure disk;and. the remaining face 10 efsaid planarmember, each of said pzssageways being formed in part at least by.alined grooves in onefaceof saidzplanar member and extend-v ing to'theperiphery thereof, a transverse aperture intheside wall .of saidannu1ar,,member in register with said passageways, means f orsupplymgair to one of said passageways, and means'for supplying liquid to theremaining passageway.

ALEX LIMBAH.

